GERMISHUYS LEADS SA CHARGE ON DAY TWO

It was a session of near misses for the SA team on Thursday night, as they remained without a medal after two days of competition at the World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia.
Anneke Germishuys, the only South African competing in a final, finished sixth in the women’s javelin throw event.
Producing the best effort of her life, Germishuys launched a 53.10m personal best, but she was unable to reach the podium.
Haruka Kitaguchi of Japan secured victory with a 60.35m attempt.
Meanwhile, only two other SA athletes were able to progress beyond the preliminary rounds of their events.
Theuns Ehlers took second place in his 800m semifinal in 1:51.01, booking his place in the medal contest.
Morne van As was also successful, ending third in his 400m hurdles semifinal in 51.96 to reach the final of his specialist discipline. Compatriot Gianni Lombard was not as fortunate, finishing fourth in his heat in 52.53, and he was eliminated.
Speedsters Nicola de Bruyn and Taylon Bieldt would have been hanging their heads in frustration after both missed out on places in their respective finals by narrow margins.
De Bruyn was fourth in her 100m semifinal in 11.73, denied a spot in the last round by 0.05, and Bieldt finished fourth in her 100m hurdles semifinal in 13.57, missing out by 0.07.
Nikolas Marich ended seventh in his 400m semifinal in 48.34, and he too was eliminated.